Valve train for the variable actuation of an inlet valve and an outlet valve, and internal combustion engine having a valve train of this type

Abstract

A valve train for the variable actuation of an inlet valve and an outlet valve of a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having a first operative connection between a valve actuating device and the inlet valve and a second operative connection between the valve actuating device and the outlet valve. The first operative connection and the second operative connection are assigned an interrupting element which is set up to temporarily interrupt the operative connections. The first operative connection and the second operative connection are connected to the same interrupting element in such a way that the first operative connection and the second operative connection can be interrupted temporarily by way of the interrupting element.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a plurality of combustion chambers; 
 an inlet valve and an outlet valve assigned to each of the combustion chambers, the inlet valve and the outlet valve of each combustion chamber being assigned to each other as a valve pair; 
 a valve train comprising a valve actuating device, a first operative connection between the valve actuating device and the inlet valve of each valve pair, and a second operative connection between the valve actuating device and the outlet valve of each valve pair; 
 an interrupting element assigned to each valve pair by being connected to the first operative connection and the second operative connection, the interrupting element being configured to temporarily interrupt the first and second operative connections; and 
 a control unit, including a respective actuation means for each interrupting element assigned to a valve pair, wherein the control unit is configured to actuate each interrupting element at least twice per working cycle of a corresponding combustion chamber of the plurality of combustion chambers. 
 
     
     
       2. The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second operative connections are hydraulic operative connections, wherein the interrupting element is a switching valve. 
     
     
       3. The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first operative connection includes a first hydraulic path to a first slave cylinder, wherein 
 the second operative connection includes a second hydraulic path to a second slave cylinder, wherein 
 the interrupting element is connected to the first hydraulic path and to the second hydraulic path. 
 
     
     
       4. The internal combustion engine according to  claim 3 , wherein the interrupting element is connected to the first hydraulic path and to the second hydraulic path by a common fluid connection. 
     
     
       5. The internal combustion engine according to  claim 3 , wherein the interrupting element is connected to the first hydraulic path by a first interrupting nonreturn valve, and the interrupting element is connected to the second hydraulic path by a second interrupting nonreturn valve. 
     
     
       6. The internal combustion engine according to  claim 3 , further comprising a hydraulic medium accumulator fluidically connected to the interrupting element, wherein the interrupting element is configured to selectively and independently bring the first hydraulic path and the second hydraulic path into fluidic connection with the hydraulic accumulator.